Officials say the 15-year-old girl was found banging on the storage closet door in just her underwear and a t-shirt days after being reported missing.
SAN ANTONIO — Bexar County officials say a man has been arrested after a missing 15-year-old girl was found in a storage closet.
On July 1, a mother reported her teen girl missing to the San Antonio Police Department.
The mother told investigators that friends told her where her daughter was and who she was with.
Detectives went with the mother to the location to find 31-year-old Anthony Jassiel Cortez.
Cortez reportedly admitted to being with the girl the past few days, but said he had dropped her off at a local mall.
The mother was able to provide authorities with a voice recording of her daughter slurring her speech, saying she was in a shed near Cortez’s apartment complex and that she knew police were at his residence.
Officers searched the area and were able to find the teen girl after hearing her banging on the door of the storage closet.
Detectives said the door was locked by a single key that could only be locked from the outside.
Once inside, officials say the girl was found in just her underwear and a t-shirt.
During an interview with investigators, the victim said Cortez had “vaginal and anal sex with her two-three times. She also stated that Cortez locked her in the closet with just a bottle of water.
The victim had to receive medical attention as she was intoxicated and under the influence, according to authorities.
Cortez reportedly admitted to to owning the storage closet, but claimed she put herself in the closet once police showed up. Cortez allegedly also admitted knowing the victim was only 15-years-old, but denied ever having sexual intercourse with her.
Cortez was arrested and is facing charges of sexual assault of a child, kidnapping and indecency with a child – contact.